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Hibernian crush Berwick’s Scottish Cup hopes

Scottish Championship side Hibernian thumped four past League Two strugglers Berwick Rangers to book their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.

One defeat in 20 games in all competitions for Hibs

Jason Cummings with 13th goal of season

Part-timers Berwick convincingly beaten in the capital

First Scottish Cup meeting between the sides for 35 years

Fourth straight win for Alan Stubbs’s team

On target: The 20-year-old scored on his 21st Hibernian appearance within two minutes of arriving on the pitch

IN-FORM Hibernian swept aside League Two strugglers Berwick Rangers at Easter Road to reach a third Scottish Cup semi-final in four years.

The Championship side were firmly in command following two quick-fire goals before the half-hour mark.

Jason Cummings slotted home Lewis Stevenson’s incisive slide-rule pass and Stevenson netted his third in six games after exchanging passes with top scorer Dominique Malonga.

Midfielder Sam Stanton crashed home a third moments after coming on as a substitute after Malonga’s shot was saved by Berwick goalkeeper Billy Bald.

And Liam Fontaine’s second Hibs goal – a powerful header from close range – completed the scoring with eight minutes to go.

Hibs will now face second-tier rivals Falkirk – whom they beat 4-3 at the semi-final stage two years ago – in the semi-finals next month.

The Leith club are now unbeaten in 14 games – their best run of form since 1999 – as the 2012 and 2013 finalists booked their first Hampden appearance in two years and took a step closer to winning the competition for the first time.

Until then, Alan Stubb’s side can switch their attentions back to returning to the Premiership at the first time of asking in their battle with Rangers for a play-off spot.

Berwick – second from bottom in the fourth-tier – were bidding to reach the Scottish Cup semis for the first time in their history and arrived in Edinburgh having won just one of their previous seven league games.

But the Shielfield Park outfit – despite their best efforts and positive attitude throughout – were well beaten while 42-year-old player-manager Colin Cameron left top scorer Darren Lavery on the substitutes bench until midway through the second period.

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